Australian government announces bushfire support package

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 00:26 · Archive

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced funding for bushfire risk management and emergency responders' mental health ahead of a predicted difficult summer.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced new support for bushfire risk management and emergency responders' mental health ahead of what he warned could be a 'very tough summer'. Mr Albanese said Australia was 'well and truly' into the high-risk weather season, intensified by a super El Nino, and that the country often had to deal with multiple extreme weather events simultaneously, citing recent flooding in Queensland and fires in the Northern Territory.

The package includes additional funding for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System and the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability, as well as support for mental health services delivered by Fortem. Mr Albanese also pointed to additional funding for the national aerial firefighting fleet, record levels in the national emergency management stockpile and work with telecommunications companies to maintain communications during emergencies.

Disaster management and response was the fastest-growing area of government expenditure in the previous financial year, rising 280 per cent from 2024-25 to 2025-26, Mr Albanese said. He said climate change was contributing to clear patterns of extreme weather, while cautioning that no individual event could be attributed solely to climate change.

How it is being reported

• Bushfire risk package unveiled ahead of 'tough' summerThe prime minister has announced a funding package strengthening bushfire risk management and emergency responders' mental health.The West Australian · 9 Nov, 00:08
• Bushfire risk package unveiled ahead of 'tough' summerThe prime minister has announced a funding package strengthening bushfire risk management and emergency responders' mental health.Perth Now · 9 Nov, 00:08

In this story: Anthony Albanese · Australia · Queensland · Northern Territory

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